New International Air Policy

October 26, 2006

26 October 2006

New International Air Policy

The following is extracted from a news release issued by Transport Canada on 25 October 2006.

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, … released a consultation document in support of a new international air transportation policy. Transport Canada is seeking stakeholder views on the document, which calls for a modernized approach to international air transportation, including Canada’s bilateral air transportation negotiations.

Transport Canada also seeks to engage stakeholders on longer-term issues that are not part of the proposed policy. These issues are in a section entitled Looking Ahead, which outlines:

• a comprehensive Canada-European Union air agreement;

• a review of ownership and control regimes of foreign air carriers;

• movement towards the creation of a North American aviation market; and

• the adoption of a multi-lateral approach to some negotiations, which means one agreement with a group of countries. …

Canada’s current approach is to gradually reduce restrictions in air agreements. Under the proposed new policy, the focus would be to pursue the negotiation of Open Skies type agreements when it is in Canada’s overall interest.

Transport Canada will consider stakeholder comments during the consultation phase, which ends on November 8th, 2006. Following a review of stakeholders’ comments, a statement on the new international air transportation policy is expected to be released. Stakeholders will have until the end of December 2006 to provide comments separately on the longer-term issues outlined in the Looking Ahead section of the document.

The consultation document is available on the Transport Canada website at
www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/ace/acea/menu.htm.

This news release is available on the Transport Canada web site, at:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2006/06-h123e.htm


Topic(s): 
Canadian Economy & Politics
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
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